Drive link for door locks



July 26, 1949. E. N. JACOB] 2,477,063

' DRIVE LINK FOR noon L'ocxs Filed July 20, 1948 27 28 sbwwm Edwrgi Jawbz Patented July 26, 1949 DRIVE LINK FOR DOOR LOCKS Edward N. Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., asslg'nor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application July 20, 1948, Serial No. 39,765

Claims. 1

This invention relates to automobile door locks and refers more particularly to a device for connecting the driven member of an automobile door lock with the door latch mechanism.

It is customary at the present time to mount door locks on automobile doors adjacent to the door handles. The driven member of the lock is usually connected with the door latch mechanism by means of an elongated link so that key operation of the door lock effects locking of the latch mechanism to prevent opening of the door, or unlocking of the latch to enable opening of the door by its handle. Since the lock is installed in the door after the latter has been substantially assembled, installation of the connecting link presents serious difiiculties because of the limited space between the inner and outer walls of double wall automobile doors and the limited access to such space afiorded by a. relatively narrow slit in the stile edges of the doors.

To facilitate installation the connecting link usually has one of its ends permanently secured to the lock mechanism before the lock is placed inthe door, and the other end of the link must therefore be readily connectible to the latch mechanism after the link has been put into its relatively inaccessible position between the door walls. 1

To this end the disabling mechanism of the latch device is frequently provided with a ball headed stud movable in opposite directions to efiect locking and unlocking of the latch mechanism, and the free end of the link is provided with a securement device which is adapted to be slipped over the head of the stud and which is cooperable with the enlarged head of the stud to eifecta substantially permanent connection between it and the link.

Heretofore the securement device has been a relatively intricate structure, difficult to assemble to the link and difficult to install in the limited space available for the operation. Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide an exceedingly simple securement device of the character described which will not require complicated operations to effect its installation within the confined space between the walls of an automobile door.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved link for connecting the driven element of an automobile vdoor lock with the latch mechanism on the door, which link is permanently secured to said driven element by an exceedingly simple universal joint that allows the link to move in every direction while transmitting pushing and pulling forces from the driven element of the lock to the latch disabling mechamsm.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a link of the character described which will be strong and inexpensive to produce and which may be very readily installed within the narrow confines of a double wall automobile door.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through an automobile door showing the link of this inventionvconnecting the door lock with the door latch;

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the link and lock taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail side elevational View of the lower portion of the link of this invention;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the lower end portion of the link Of this invention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates generally the case of a conventional key operated cylinder lock mounted in the outer wall 6 of a double Wall automobile door. The lock has conventional tumbler mechanism (not shown) actuated by a key 1, and has a pivoted cover 8 on its front face to protect the mechanism from foreign matter which might enter through the key slot.

The driven element 9 of the lock may be of any suitable type and is essentially in the form of a lever having a lost motion connection with the rotatable lock cylinder so as to be oscillated by the cylinder. The particular type of lever 9 and its connection to, the lock cylinder forms the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 46,091 for Locks. filed August 25, 1948,

The door latch mechanism, designated gener ally by the numeral l2, may be of any known 1 type and may have the door handleinot shown) integral therewith or the door handle may be connected to the latch mechanism by means of suitable linkage (not shown).

In the present instance the disabling. mecha- I nism of the door latch is actuated by a. ball? headed stud l3 movable in opposite directions to effect locking and unlocking of the latch device. 1 Motion of the driven element 9 of the door lock" driven element by means ofaimtmpjmvedhnd um usually simple universal joint IF about to be described; and the lower end of the link is secured hereinafter. V

The upper end portion ll of the link I4 is curved out of the plane-of the-medialportion H thereof and like the body" of the link is arcuate j in cross-section so that it presents a convex rocker-like surface at the point at whicl i it abuts the driven element 9* of the lock. A rivet l8 passes through the outer end of" the drivenelement and through a spacer sleeve Hi, the length? of the sleeve being somewhat greater tha-m the-f thickness of the material of the link, and a loosely fitting hole is" provided'in the upper curved end of the link'through whichthespacersleevepasses. By virtue of the" fact" that the sleeve does not snugly engage the edges of the'hole 2'0; and the to the ball headed stud i3 means. or: a;-iIUf-- shaped spring clip l6 also described more fully planeofthe face 2|.

s-pa'cer' l 9 permits a degree of motion'of't-heupper end of thelink axially ofthe rivet, it will Ire-seen that the convex upper end of the-link is free-for limited rocking movement about the rivet inail directions to provide a universal'join't capable" of", transmitting pushing and pulling 'f-orcesfrom the driven element into the link and thus to th'eball headed stud l3;

The" outer end of thespacer ['9 is flared out wardly to a diameter greater thanthat of the hole 26 in the link so as to precludeseparation of the link from the driven-elements;

tively fiat but is bent to lie at a slight angle-to the body; hf of the'linl withwne-fiat face-il thereof facing in the-direction of the door lock and away from thelatch mecha'nismf2. & hole 22 in the-flat lower end ofthe-link is adapted-to receive the ballhea'don the stud [3, the hole being large enough in diameter to 'permitth'e' head of the stud to readily pass therethroughaj The substantially U -sli'ape'cl spring clip t6 flat i wise overlies the front face it wmrthe" medial portions of its Iegsstraddlin'g the hole- 22-; as at;

23; so" that the legs extend across theholei ad' -I jacerit to its oppositeside'edges hut inwardly thereof; Hence, the two legs of the spring {6 are adapted tosecurelyclamp-around thereduced neck of the stud le" immediatelybelow'the e11 largedballhead thereon'; r f

The spring clip is secure'd to the lower'enpoi tion of the. link by'means or a strap orbridgefl,

struck upwardly from the ilat' surface zi an'd straddling the medial portions; or the l'e'gs-of 'tlie spring clip. The free end portions of the spring clip legs overlie the'bodyportion M2 on the-link; and since the bodyof the link is: disposed at a slightly outward angle with" respectto the hat face 21}, this angled'po'rtibria the lit'il, in see operation with the strap; tendstzcrbias the legs of! the spring clip into' secure name -em gagementwith theifiatfacelh i the spring clip is received, thus precluding longitudinal displacement of the spring clip, and the lugiis:disposed'substantially diagonally across the inside of theclosed end of the clip so'that one en'diedge' or the-lug: abuts the inner side of one leg ofthe spring; elip as at 29, while the edge of "the cutout abuts the inner surface of the other leg offthei spring,'clip as at30, thus eifectively precluding sidewise'shifting of the clip in the The lowermost edge of the lug 26 is upwardly and inwardlyangled as at 3I'l see Figures 1 and 3, to facilitate assembly of the spring clip onto the link. Such assembly: is readily accomplished by inserting the two legs-of the spring clip under the-strap24"andv moving the clip'upwardly toward the body of. the link, the closed end of the clip" being cammed intoposition in the cutout" 28-by theinclined' surface 3:!- on the lug; V V F With the spring clip i'n. place-and the-link uni versally' connected to the driven element ofthe' look by; means.- of the rivet l8; the lock and link assembly is placed intolthe doorwall and the lock securely fastened therein-lini the usual manner: It is. then necessary only" to align the hole 22 in: the lower end? of the-link with the ball head on thestud'le, andiuport the application of pressure tothe link toi'm'oveits lower end; towardthe latch mechanism, the round: head oftnestud' camsthe medtalz'portions of. the clip legs apartand: the legs: spring back; together about the reduced neck or the stud: to: clamp the same securely between them. r

1 From: the foregoing description taken: together with. the accompanying drawing it;- willbe readilyapparentthat this invention providesanv in'r proved; link for connectinga' theid'riven element at an. automobile do'ori locki with the disabling mechanism of a dOOr latch and that the same 'is simple and in'expensive ta build and extremely easy to install within the limited operating space available" betweenzthei two walls ofa ant-automobiledoor Whatlclaim asmy: invention is: a .1 Means for connecting the 'driven elementiof an automobile-door l'ock: with: latch mechanismon the door: having aballiheadedistudmovable inlcpposite'directionsato loclcand unlockthe latch mechanism, said means comprisingzl'anielongated link: the upper. end of which vis connect'ableiwith theaball: headed stud; is adapted to be: received;

means'for connecting thalower endof: thelink with the: ball headed" stud; said- 'meansiincluding a: substantially. U-slriaped-spring; and means: on the link; for: holding" the spring on said a lower end ofi the: link against one side: thereof with: tire medial portions of its legs overlying the hollii the link, said means restraining the ends-oi the legs against-spreading apart so that' said lees" are capable: of: yi'eldi'ngly clamping: the neck of the ball headed stud between; them when thesame isproieeted through the hole; V

2. Means for transmitting motion: tronr the element or automcbiie doorman: to a ball headed stud on the door latch mechanism so as to enable locking and unlocking of said latch mechanism by the door lock, comprising: an elongated link, one end of which is connectable with the driven element of the door lock and the opposite end of which has a hole in which the ball headed stud is adapted to be received; integral spring retaining means on one face of said opposite end of the link at opposite sides of the hole therein; and a substantially U-shaped spring held in place on said face by the retaining means with its legs overlying said hole and spaced apart a distance to firmly clamp beneath the head of the stud when the same is projected through said hole.

3. Means for connecting the driven element of an automobile door lock with latch mechanism on the door provided with a ball headed stud movable in opposite directions to lock and unlock the latch mechanism, said means comprising: an elongated link having its upper end portion curved to rocker-like shape and provided with a hole in which a rivet on the driven element of the lock is adapted to fit loosely to form a universal joint connection between the link and. the door look; a hook-like lug on the lower extremity of said link; a strap on the lower end of the link spaced a distance inwardly from said lug; and a substantially U-shaped spring having its closed end engaged under said hook-like lug and its legs confined under said strap so that the flexible medial portions of the legs of the spring are relatively close together and centered over a hole in the lower end of the link between said strap and lug and of a size to allow passage of the ball head on the stud therethrough to be yieldingly clamped between the legs of the spring.

4. Means for connecting the driven element of an automobile door lock with latch mechanism on the door provided with a ball headed stud movable in opposite directions to lock and unlock the latch mechanism, said means comprising: an elongated link, the upper end of which is connectable with the driven element of the lock; a substantially U-shaped spring clip adapted to lie flatwise against one face of the lower end of the link; and means for holding said spring clip in place on the lower end of the link, includin a lug on the lower extremity of the link disposed substantially diagonally within the closed end of the U-shaped clip, and a strap extending across the legs of the U-shaped spring a distance from said lug, said strap holding the legs of the spring together and centered over a hole in the lower end of the link between the strap and lug and through which the ball head of the stud is adapted to be projected so that the legs of the spring may tightly clamp the stud beneath the ball head thereon.

5. The connecting means set forth in claim 4 wherein said lower end of the link is bent to lie at a slight angle to the adjoining portion of the link, and wherein the extremities of the legs of the spring extend onto said adjoining portion of the link to be raised thereby for tensioning the clip in a manner to bias the same firmly against said face on the lower end of the link.

EDWARD N. JAC'OBI.

No references cited. 

